Troubleshooting Automation Triggers: Tags & Dates
If your automation didn't start when you added a date or tag to a contact, don't worry — this is one of the most common automation questions. This guide explains how triggers work, why they sometimes don't start right away, and how to fix them.
How Automations Start
Automations in Levitate can be triggered by:
• Dates (birthdays, renewals, anniversaries)
• Tags
• New contacts
• Integrations (forms, donations, CRM updates)
Each trigger behaves differently depending on how Levitate processes the data. The two biggest sources of confusion are date-based triggers and tag-based triggers, so we'll break those down below.
Date Based Automations
How Date Triggers Work
Date-based automations run on a daily processing schedule. That means:
• Adding or updating a date does not trigger an automation immediately.
• Levitate checks for eligible contacts overnight or at scheduled intervals.
• Contacts are added if their date falls in the automation's time window.
Example
Automation: Send email 7 days before birthday
Birthday entered: December 15
• Contact enters automation on December 8
• Email sends on schedule automatically
Why Dates Don't Trigger Immediately
The delay is intentional. It:
• Prevents performance issues during bulk imports
• Keeps automation activity organized
• Ensures steps are timed correctly
What To Do If a Date Automation Didn't Trigger
Check the following:
• Date is entered in the correct field
• Automation is enabled (published)
• Date falls within the trigger window
• Contact meets all automation conditions (additional tags or other criteria)
• You've waited at least 24 hours — if it's been more than 24–48 hours with no activity, please contact support.
Tag Based Automations
Important: Tag automations do not start automatically. Adding a tag to a contact does NOT start an automation automatically by default. This is expected behavior, not a bug.
Why Tag-Based Automations Require Manual Start
Tags are often used for organization and internal cleanup. Manual control:
• Prevents accidental sends
• Allows bulk tagging safely
• Gives you a chance to review before starting
• Avoids triggering hundreds of automations unintentionally
Can Tag Triggers Be Automatic?
Some accounts with specific integrations may have automatic tag triggering enabled. If you want this enabled, contact support to see what's available for your account.
Common Issues & Fixes
Q: I added a birthday, but nothing happened.
• Wait 24 hours.
• Check if the birthday is within the automation range.
• Confirm the automation is active.
Q: I added a tag, but the automation didn't start.
• Start the automation manually from the contact or automation screen.
• Contact support if you need automatic behavior.
Q: My automation started, then stopped.
Check if:
• The tag was removed
• The date changed
• The contact unsubscribed
• Conditions were modified
Q: I imported contacts, but nothing triggered.
• Date automations → Wait overnight.
• Tag automations → Start manually in bulk.
Q: Can I trigger a Levitate Meeting Reminder Automation when someone books with me outside of Levitate?
A: No. Event-driven automations can only be driven off of Levitate events.
Q: If a contact unsubscribes or their email bounces in the middle of an automation, will they be removed?
A: For automations, we do a step-by-step check for tags to determine if someone has received an unsubscribe or email-bounced tag during the automation. If they have, they are removed from the automation.
Q: Can clicking a link in someone's signature trigger the "add tag" option in an automation?
A: Yes. When a recipient clicks a link in someone's email signature, it can trigger the advanced automation option to add a tag.
Best Practices
For Date Automations
• Create the automation before importing.
• Test with one contact first.
• Use wide date windows for safety.
• Wait 24–48 hours after imports.
For Tag Automations
• Document which tags start automations.
• Train your team on manual starts.
• Use dashboards to monitor.
• Use dates if the automation must be automatic.
Testing Any Automation
1. Create a test contact.
2. Add a date or tag.
3. Manually start if tag-based.
4. Wait for date processing.
5. Watch the workflow.
6. Adjust if needed.
When to contact Support
Contact Levitate if:
• You want automatic tag triggers.
• Date automations haven't run after 48 hours.
• Integrations aren't working and triggering an automation with a tag.
• You need help choosing the best trigger type.
FAQs
Q: Can tag automations run automatically?
A: Usually no, but some integrations allow it. Please contact support.
Q: How long after adding a date should the automation start?
A: Within 24 hours.
Q: If I remove a tag, does the automation stop?
A: Not usually — you would need to manually cancel the automation for that contact.
Q: Can one contact be in multiple automations?
A: Yes. Each automation runs independently.